Coin-controlled mechanism



5 Sheets-Sheet l H. M. HENDERSON COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISI Filed Dec. 9, 1927 llll O Sept. 24, 1929.

Sept. 24, 1929. H. M. HENDERSON 1,729,334

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Dec. 9, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 24, 1929. H. M. HENDERSON com CONTROLLED rmcrmmsu Filed Dec. 9, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 17M fiizdsrson Figure Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES HARRY M. HENDERSON, OF \VASI-IINGZON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM Application filed December 9, 1927.

My present invention relates generally'to coin controlled apparatus and has to do more particularly with such apparatus as applied to, and used in connection with, the

dispensing of cups and a measured quantity of beverage into each cup, and my primary object is the provision of an apparatus whereby the desired result may be accomplished in a simple effective manner with littie, it any, likelihood of success by the use of ity of a second operation by the use of a buried or otherwise misshapen coin.

With the above general objects in mind, the further and more specific objects of my invention, as well as the structure, arrangement and operation of the parts, and the resulting advantages thereof will appear in the course of the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional top plan view of the complete mechanical unit embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken therethrough substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is another vertical cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figures l and 5 are vertically longitudinal sections taken respectively on lines 4-ei and 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 view taken substantially on line 66 of F igure 5.

is a. vertical longitudinal section is a detail horizontal sectional Serial No. 238,816.

showing certain of the parts of Figure 5 in actuated position.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional View showing certain parts for the actuation oi the beverage measuring valve.

Figure 9 is a detail vertical section taken through the cup discharge spout.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the controlling weight of the cup holder; and

Figure 11 is a Vertical sectional View showing certain of the closure operating connections of the cup discharge spout.

Ide'terring now to the above identified drawings, I have shown at A, a conventional form of cup dispensing apparatus mounted at the lower end of an elongated upright cup holding tube B which I have, for the purposes of my invention, provided with a vertical slot B to receive the radially out standing rib C of a controlling weight C. This weight is in practise placed upon a series of nested cups in the holder B and its rib C supports an arcuate sign place C upon the exterior o the tube. Thus the weight C will gradually drop in the tube as the cups are dispensed by the apparatus A through the swinging actuation of its arm A, and will in its lowermost position engage and depress one end of a controlling arm or lever 15 pivoted intermediate its ends as at 16 upon the cup dispensing apparatus, for a purpose which will presently appear. In practice, the casing or housing in which the parts just described are mounted, may have a window and the like so located as to bring the sign plate G into view in the lowermost position of the controlling weight C, so that the legend, preferably the word Empty may be easily seen.

I also preferably provide the lower portion of the cup dispensing apparatus A, with a depending extension or discharge tube 17 adapted in practice to guide the cups, as they are dropped, to a position below and at one side of the apparatus A to facilitate their disposition below a fluid discharge tube D. Since for practical purposes the lower end of the cup dispensing apparatus must be exposed, 1 preferably avoid unwarranted removal of the cups by providing the discharge tube 17 with closure member 18 of the concavo-convex form shown in Figures 3 and 9. This shutter like closure 18 which in its normal positions extends in an approximately horizontal position across the discharge tube 17, as in Figure 9, so as to prevent the insertion of the hand upwardly into the cup dispensing apparatus, is fixed at one point to a rock-shaft 19 journalled in the side wall of the discharge tube 17 and provided with an outstanding crank arm 20. This crank arm upon actuation, as hereinafter described, throws the closure 18 downwardly to the'dotted line portion of Figure 9, its shape permitting it to conform to the inner surface of the discharge tube 17 so as to permit a cup to freely drop through the tube 17 when released by actuation of the cup dispensing mechanism A.

Upon the discharge of a cup in the above manner below the fluid discharge tube D, fluid is permitted to discharge into the cup from a tank E, it'being understood that in practise the cup is supported by suitable means permitting the operator to grasp the same and easily remove it when filled. his fluid discharge is under control of a measuring device consisting of a hollow valve F reciprocable within a similarly cylindrical valve casing G having its inner rear end securely locked through the wall of the tank E as at G and opening into the same.

The inner or rear end of the measuring valve F is closed and has around the same a forwardly facing bevelled valve rib F which, in the normal position of the parts, seats against the inner end of the casing G. Adjacent to this end, the valve F also has an annular series of fluid inlet openings F which are exposed to the interior of the tank E when the valve is shifted inwardly or arwardly.

The forward end of the casing Gr threads into the upper sleeve D of the discharge tube or spout D and presents an edge G for engagement by the annular valve rib F at the forward end of valve F, which rib is preferably formed in connection with a forwardly projecting axial valve stem F Near its said forward end valve F has a second annular series of openings F these being for the discharge of fluid and being for this purpose disposed forwardly of the casing G when the valve is in forward position so as to permit the contents of the hollow valve to flow into the sleeve D and thus from the dis charge spout D.

As shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 2. the sleeve D of the discharge spout has oppositely outstanding horizontal side pieces 21 and 22, the former elongated forwardly along one side of the plane of the valve casing G and the latter secured to a horizontal bracket 23 at the rear of the cup dispensing apparatus A. To the side piece 21 a pair of plunger guide plates 2 1 and 25 are secured along one side and these guide plates are so spaced as to form between them an inverted U-shaped guide channel for the similarly shaped plunger 26 having at its forward end a hand piece 27 facilitating manual actuation of the plunger both rearwardly and forwardly.

There is also secured to the side piece 21 a supplemental frame including cross members 28 and 29 extending over the plunger guide plates 24 and 25 atlongitudinally spaced points, and a laterally outstanding bearing support 30. The forward cross member 29 serves as a support for the coin actuated plunger controlling detents while the rear cross member 28 supports a cross pin 31 serving as a fulcrum for a longitudinal coin ejecting lever 32 resembling a walking beam, see Figures 5 and 7.

By reference to Figure 6, it will be seen that the plunger 26 has a coin receiving aperture 33 at the forward end of a central longitudinal slot 34; and that it has slots 35 parallel with, and at opposite sides of, slot 3%. Slots 35 receive the lower ends of an inverted U- shaped latch 36 which as shown in Figure 3 is mounted to shift vertically in the frame member 29 with its cross piece below a press bar 37 and above a latch releasing detent 38 whose-lower end is disposed in. the central slot The lower end of detent 38 is bevelled rearwardly so that a coin in the aperture 33 engages its lower end and elevates the same and thus the latch 36 so that the plunger may be thrust rearwardly. The press bar 37 above referred to is slidable at its ends upon upright guide rods 39 fixed at their lower ends in the cross frame 29 and rigidly connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 10. Springs 41 are coiled around the rods 39 and compressed between the press bar 37 and the cross bar 10. The cross bar l0 also has a depending bracket portion 12 between the rods 39 which serves as a support for a pivoted rocking member 413 constituting a lock and having a pin movably engaging the slotted end 4 1 of the controlling lever 15 before referred to. This lock member 43 is normally retained by gravity in the horizontal inactive position shown in Figure 3, but when the weight C engages and depresses the adjacent end of the controlling lever 15, its slotted end 1 1 will be raised, thus swinging the lock 13 to a vertical position wherein it prevents the press bar 37 from rising and in this way holds the latch 36 in connection with the plunger 26. Thus the plunger can not be actuated when the cup magazine or holder is empty.

Immediately in front of the latch releasing detent 38 and above an opening 15 in the lower guide plate 25 of the plunger, a second, detent 16 is slidable vertically in a tubular upright bearing 47 of the cross frame 29. The upper end ofthis detent is engaged by a spring 48 held in place by a threaded cap plug 49 and the lower end thereof is bevelled forwardly or in a direction oppo site to that of the detent 38. The opening is slightly smaller than the coin aperture 33 and is located immediately to the rear thereof when the plunger is in its forward position. Thus if a coin of less than the proper size is placed in the aperture 33 it will be engaged by the detent 46 and will be a engages and elevates the rear tail portion of the coin ejecting lever 32 so as to force the forward nose of this lever downwardly to engage the coin and depress the same out of the coin aperture 33 after it passes the detent 38 as shown in Figure 7. Thisprevents repeating by the use of a coin whose edge has been burred to stick in the coin aperture.

The depending portion of the pin 50 extends through the laterally elongated slot 51 intermediate the ends of the valve-actuat ing lever 52, the outer end of which is pivoted upon a pin 53 mounted through the outer end of the before mentioned frame arm 30. The inner end of this lever 52 has a yoke 54 engaging a grooved collar 55 upon thev forward end of the valve stem F. Lever 52 also has intermediate its ends a pivot pin 56 depending through the slotted end of a spring-controlling lever 57 fulcrumed at 58 upon a frame member 59 beneath the plunger guide. The other end of lever 57 is connected to oneend of a retractile coil spring 60.

The plunger pin 50 also depends through the inner longitudinally slotted end 61 of a second spring controlling lever 62 which is fulcrumed adjacent to its outer end upon the pin 53. The outer end of lever 62 is angled somewhat and connected to the opposite end of spring and also to one end of a spring 63 whose other end is connected to the rear end of the plunger guide as shown in Figure 1. It is thus obvious that when the plunger is moved rearwardly the valve actuating lever will also be moved rearwardly and the spring engaging ends of levers 57 and 62 will be shifted forwardly beyond a line connecting the pivots 53 and 58 so that in the latter portion of its rearward or inward movement, the valve F will be accelerated to the liquid receiving position and its valve ribF firmly engaged with the forward end G of the valve casing, by the tension of spring 60. Likewise the movement of the valve stem and valve is accelerated whenthe plunger is pulled forwardly, since the spring 60 shifted rear-wardly to the position shown in Figure 8, so that the valve will be snapped to the liquid'discharge position and its rear valve rib F tightly engaged with the rear end of the casingG. This arrangement insures snug non-leaking engagement of the valve in both positions and the discharge of the same quantity of fluid at each operation of the plunger.

The upper portion of the plunger pin 50 also works in a slotted arm 64 whose rear end is pivoted at 65 to one end of a lever 66 fulcrumed upon an upstanding pin 67 and having its other end pivotally connected to the rear end of a connecting arm 68. The forward end of this connecting arm 68 is pivotally connected to the crank arm A of the cup dispensing mechanism, as most plainly shown in Figure 1 and has an upstanding pin 69 to the upper end of which the forward end of a connecting rod '20 is joined.

Across the rear portion of the cup dispensing mechanism a bracket 71 is securely fastened thereto and to the before-mentioned horizontal bracket 23. The bracket 71 has at its opposite sides bearings 72 fora shaft 73 provided at. one end with a crank 74 to which the rear end of connecting rod is joined. The other end of shaft 73 carries a cam 75 disposed between, and operating.

against, the vertically spaced rollers 7 6 and 77 ofa vertically movable slide plate 78 supported by the bracket 71. The slide plate 78 has a socket member 7 9 in which one end of a connecting rod 80 is engaged. The other end of this connecting. rod engages a socket member on the crank arm 20 of the cup protecting member 18 so that in the rearward movement of the plunger at the time the cup dispensing apparatus is actuated, the member 18 will be shifted downwardly to its inactive position shown in dotted lines in Figure 9.

It is apparent from the foregoing that my invention makes it necessary to insert the proper coin in the coin aperture of the plunger before the latter can be forced rearwardly upon the first half of its full stroke, and that an apertured slug will be arrested and a slug or coin of smaller than the required size will be rejected. During this half of the stroke, the cup dispensing mechanism will be actuated and a cup dropped beneath the fluid discharge spout and in addition to this the measuring valve will be shifted to its inner position where it fills with fluid from the tank. Thus upon pulling the plunger forwardly the valve will be shifted to discharge position, the cup previousy dropped will be filled and the protecting member 18 restored to its active position shown in full lines in Figure 9.

it becomes obvious from the foregoing that my invention provides a simple, strong and durable mechanism capable of installation and removal as a unit which greatly facilitates repair and substitution of parts as well as careful effective assembly and ad justment in the first instance, as well as a mechanism which is proof against the unwarranted operation so common in devices of a similar general nature now in use.

W hat 1 claim is:

1. in a mechanism of the character dencribed a plunger, a controlling latch there- "or, a latch releasing detent, a locking memoer shift-able into the path releasing movement of said latch, and gravity means for so shifting said locking membe 2. In a coin controlled mechanism, a plunger, a controlling latch therefor, a coin actuated detent for releasing said latch, connections to lock said latch against releasing movement and a graity member for actuating said locking connections.

in a coin controlled mechanism, plunger having acoin aperture and a slot eX tending therefrom, and a so having slots upon opposite sides of the firs slot, a U- shaped latch having its lower ends disposed in the latter slots, a coin actuated detent. in the first slot movable upwardly against a portion of said latch to elevate and release the latter, and a second detent forwardly of said first detent and in. the path of travel of the coin in said aperture, said second detent acting as a supplemental latch and to prevent actuation of the first detent by an apertnred ll In a coin controlled. mechanism, a plunger l'iaving a coin aperture and a slot extending therefrom, and also having slots upon opposite sides of the first slot, a U- shaped latch having its lower ends disposed in the latter slots, a coin actuated detent in the first slot movable upwardly against a portion of said latch to elevate and release the itter, and a second detent forwardly of said first detent and in the path of travel of the coin in said aperture, and a support for said plunger having an opening below said second detent of smaller diameter than said coin aperture.

5. In a coin controlled mechanism, a plunger having a coin aperture and a slot extending therefrom, and also having slots upon opposite sides of the first slot, a U- shaped latch having its lower ends disposed in the latter slots, a coin actuated detent in the first slot movable upwardly against a portion of said latch to elevate and release the latter, and a. second detent forwardly of said first detent and in the path of travel of the coin in said aperture, said detents having oppositely bevelled lower ends and said sec- 0nd detent being normally supported upon the face of the plunger.

6. In a coin controlled mechanism, a plunger havin a coin aperture, a support therefor, a cross frame on said support having upright bearing, a U-shaped latch memher having its Xtensions depending through certain of said bearings to engage the plunger, a detent in another of said bearings and having its upper end engaging the cross bar of said latch, the lower end of said detent being bevelled for actuation b y a coin in said aperture, uprights carried by said frame, a press bar guided by said uprights and resting on said detent, springs engaging said press bar, a cross piece connecting the uprights, and a pivoted member supported by said cross piece and normally standing parallel lo and spaced from said press bar, and gravity controlled means for shifting said pivoted member to a position at right angles to and engaging the press bar whereby to prevent effective movement of said detent.

7. In a coin controlled mechanism, a plunger having central and side slots and a coin aperture in line with the center slot, a latch having portions extending into the side slots, a detent engaging a portion of said latch and depending into the central slot for actuation by a coin to displace the latch, and a combined coin displacing and plunger latching detent forwardly of said first named detent.

8. In a coin controlled mechanism, a plunger having central and side slots and a coin aperture in line with the center slot, a latch having portion s extending into the side slots, a detent engaging a portion of said latch and depending into the central slot for actuation by a coin to displace the latch, a combined coin displacing and plunger latching detent forwardly of said latch displacing detent, and a coin displacing nien'iber actuated by the plunger and disposed rearwardly of the latch displacing detent.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HARRY M. HENDERSON. 

